Disease Description: The ureters (tubes leading from the kidneys to the bladder) do not empty into the bladder in the normal location.

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Disease Symptom: Dogs with ectopic ureters have symptoms that can range from mild to severe. Males are often asymptomatic, which means that they do not display any outward signs of having the condition. Dogs with only one affected ureter may continue to pass urine normally. The process of urinating is called “micturition.” When clinical signs of ectopic ureters are present, owners might notice one or more of the following:Urinary incontinience (intermittent or continuous; usually suggests bilateral condition);Inappropriate elimination (urinating in unusual areas);Persistent urine dribbling (especially in juvenile animals);Dampness around the external genitalia;Cloudy urine (pyuria; from pus in the urine);Foul-smelling urine (from infection somewhere along the urinary tract);Redness, inflammation and irritation of the hair and skin around a female dog’s vulva and vagina (vulvitis and vaginitis due to urine scalding).

Disease Cause: Certain breeds seem to have a predisposition to being born with ectopic ureters. This is called a congenital defect. Because of the prevalence of the abnormality in those breeds, the defect also appears to have a genetic component, rather than just occurring randomly during prenatal development. Unfortunately, the mode of inheritance is not well-understood. The involvement of heredity also is not consistent. Bitches with ectopic ureters are known to have whelped litters in which none of their offspring is born with the condition – or at least none of them exhibit the intermittent or persistent incontinence so commonly associated with this conformational abnormality. Vitamin imbalances or deficiencies in female dogs during pregnancy have also been suggested as possible contributors to ecopic ureters in their puppies.

Disease Diagnose: More advanced testing may involve ultrasound examination to assess the anatomical integrity of urinary tract structures. This procedure, when performed by a person skilled in ultrasonography, is usually diagnostic of ectopic ureters. Contrast radiography can also be used, although it is more invasive. This involves inserting contrast media into the dog’s urinary tract and then taking films (radiographs; X-rays) as that material moves through and out of that tract. While standard radiographs without contrast media may be helpful, they are not as reliable as either ultrasound or contrast studies. Computed tomography (CT scan) may be available at some specialized veterinary clinics. CT scans are extremely accurate to diagnose this disorder. Other techniques, such as urethrocystoscopy, vaginal urethrography and excretory urography, can permit the veterinarian to visualize anatomical abnormalities and localize the terminal openings of ectopic ureters into the bladder, urethra, vagina or somewhere else.

Treat Method: Many veterinarians recommend that incontinent female puppies not be spayed before their first heat cycle; sometimes, their condition resolves on its own under that hormonal influence. There are no realistic medical (drug) therapies for ectopic ureters. Even with surgery, affected animals may remain incontinent, depending in large part upon the status of their urethral sphincter mechanism which plays a huge role in the voluntary withholding or passage of urine. There are a few medications that may help to reduce incontinence, depending on its cause. For example, antibiotics can help to clear up a urinary tract infection (UTI) which can contribute to incontinence. It is very important to treat UTIs before any surgical correction is contemplated. However, this will not “treat” or “cure” the ectopic ureter itself.

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Disease Description Source: Link